Predawn K9 search after office break-in leads to arrest of suspect in five burglaries

A predawn manhunt by a Riverhead Police K9 unit resulted in the arrest of an Aquebogue man who was ultimately charged with five felony burglaries occurring in Riverhead during the past month.

Police said Miguel Rojas Decker, 22, was tracked down by a K9 unit in the area of Segal Avenue and Lewis Street early this morning after a break-in triggered a burglary alarm at nearby East End Cardiology on East Main Street.

Officers responding to the 4:20 a.m. alarm found broken glass; the K9 unit was able to establish a track that led to the suspect, Det. Tim Hubbard told RiverheadLOCAL.

Rojas Decker was taken to police headquarters for questioning, after which he was charged with five felony counts of third-degree burglary. Police said Rojas Decker used a hammer to break into the East End Cardiology office this morning through a window, and removed two laptop computers from the premises.

He is also accused of breaking into suite 100 at 400 West Main Street between April 2 and 10 in the early morning hours with the intent of committing a burglary, and forcing open the door of Suite 301 at the same address on April 12, where he allegedly stole $87 in cash, a Palm Trio cell phone and a silver business card holder, according to charges read aloud at his arraignment this afternoon in Riverhead Justice Court.

Also on April 12, Rojas Decker reportedly broke into Suite 100a, also known as East End Luxury, in the early morning hours, where he stole two computers and $329 in cash, according to police.

He was accused of committing another burglary at East End Luxury days later when he reportedly broke into the location at 2:28 a.m. on April 18, by forcing a door. He stole a flat-screen HD television and a dog carrier from the location, police said.

“These are serious felonies,” Town Justice Allen Smith told the defendant at his arraignment today.

Rojas Decker, who told the court he is currently unemployed, will be assigned a Legal Aid attorney to represent him, Smith said.

He was remanded to the Suffolk County jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail.

Rojas Decker will return to court tomorrow morning.

In January, Rojas Decker was involved in an argument that ended with William Biesler, 30, pointing a 20-gauge shotgun at him and firing a shot, according to police. He was not injured as a result of that incident.

Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. By law, a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.